Ice dispensing machine



April 12, 1960 w. P. MANNHARDT ICE DISPENSING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 5, 1958 lFcc/erzzby Mg'ferTPMar-zrz haw/cit;

(idles/(Z69 April 12, 1960 w. P. MANNHARDT 2,932,429

ICE DISPENSING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1958 ICE DISPENSINGMACHINE Wiibert P. Mannhardt, Park Ridge, Ill. Application May s, 1958,Serial No. 732,932 6 Claims. c1. 222 -4 My invention relates to an icedispensing machine in which a movable carriage provided with icedispensing windows coacts with -a plurality of carriage operatedagitators to dispense ice cubes or shaved ice.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an insulatedcontainer, which stores ice cubes or shaved ice, with a base platehaving a plurality of aligned ice dispensing openings. A movablecarriage underlies the base plate and these openings and defines websunderlying the base openings when the carriage is in iceholding positionand ice dispensing windows underlying the base openings when thecarriage is in ice-dispensing position. A plurality of agitators eachhave one end swingably mounted on the side of the container and theother end swingably mounted on the movable carriage rockinpendulurn-like fashion when the carriage is moving between theice-dispensing and ice-holding positions to agitate and loosen the icecubes or shaved ice to asf nitcd States atent sure discharge through theopenings. These agitators tion to provide an ice dispensing machine withamov-,

able carriage having ice dispensing windows that coacts with a pluralityof agitators to dispense ice cubes or the like.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an icedispensing machine having a plurality of agitators that coact with amovable carriage and which move in unison with the carriage and at arate to gently prod ice cubes or the like to facilitate discharge of thesame without fracture or powdering'.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a coinoperated'ice dispensing machine with an insulated container having baseopenings and a movable carriage with windows and webs of the same extentas the openings underlying the same whereby the carriage willreciprocate for a predetermined period of time after insertion of acoin, together with agitators connected to the carriage and operable inunison therewith to prod the ice free and assure discharge of apredetermined quantity of ice.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an icedispensing machine having a movable carriage with ice dispensing windowsdefined by transverse webs underlying an insulated container having abase with ice dispensing openings, and a plurality of agitating rodsswingably mounted. at one-end to the movable carriage and swingablymounted at the other end to one side of the container so that they areupstanding and span the width of the container and rock in unison with2,932,429 Patented Apr. 12, 1960 the movable carriage to prod the icefree and assure discharge of the same.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an icedispensing machine that is low in cost, reliable in operation andadapted for use with an ice making machine.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My inventionitself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereofwill best he understood by reference to the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a front clevational view with parts broken away showing anice-dispensing machine made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View with parts broken away of theice-dispensing machine shown in Figure 1 Figure 3 is an enlarged sideelevational view of the movable carriage of the machine of Figures 1 and2, with parts broken away;

Figure 4' is a top plan view of the movable carriage shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken through 55, Figure4, together with a diagram of a coin operating circuit for theice-dispensing machine of Figures 1-4; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken through axis 6-45,Figure 4, showing one of the agitators of the machine of Figures 1-5.

An ice-dispensing machine made in accordance with the present inventionis shown generally at 1% Figures 1 and 2. An insulated container 12 ismounted on a movable carriage 14. Ice cubes or shaved ice manufacturedbya suitable unit 16 mounted on insulated con tainer 1 2 by suitable means(not shown) supplies the container 12 with ice. The entireice-dispensing unit in turn is mounted on a hopper 18 by means of sheetmetal screws 32 and directs the ice cubes or shaved ice into a pail orbucket 20 sitting therebeneath. The base 22 of the insulated container12 is'provided with bafiles 24 which may be welded to the base or may beattached theretoby any other suitable means (not'shown These bafiles 24define ice dispensing openings 26 in the base plate 2.2 through whichthe ice cubes or shaved ice are discharged. It will be noted that thebafiles 24 are of triangular shape in cross-section to direct thepassage of the ice cubes or shaved ice into the openings 26.

The movable carriage I4 is provided with transverse webs 28 which defineice dispensing windows 3% both being of the same extent as openings 26in base plate 22. When themovable carriage is in ice-dispensingposition, the windows 30 underlie the openings 26in base plate 22." Whenthe movable carriage is in ice-holding position, the webs 28 underliethe openings 26 in base plate 22. In this manner flow of the iceproducts can be effectively controlled by the movable carriage; 7

It is well known that ice is very brittle and easily damaged. It is alsowell known that adjacent ice cubes or shaved ice in a container have atendency to join which makes it very difficult to pass through therather restricted openings in an ice-dispensing machine. In order toassure passage of ice through the openings 26 there is provided aplurality of agitators 34 which are shownin Figures 1, 2, and 6 in theform of elongated rods. It is to be understood, however, that I do notlimit my invention merely, to the use of rods but that the agitators maytake any feasible form dependent upon the design preferences of theuser. Many alternative forms will provide the agitating service that therods 34' do. I I

The rods 34 are swingably mounted at one end on the insulated container12 and are swingably mounted on the movable carriage 14 at the otherend. When the carriage reciprocates the rods 34 rock in unison with thecarriage 14. The agitators 34 move at a rate that will not cause the iceto fracture or powder and be reduced to a volume smaller than thatmanufactured in the ice making machine 16. The agitators 34 perform thefunction of separating ice cubes which have become attached to oneanother and therefore allows the individual cubes to pass through theopenings 26 and 30 into the hopper 18. The container 12 is insulated bymeans of any commercially suitable insulation 36 for the container actsas a storage device while the ice-dispensing unit is not in operation.

It will be noted that the container 12 has one sloping side 38 which isin a plane generally parallel to the plane in which the agitators 34operate. The purpose of having at least one side of the container 12 ina sloping relationship with the other sides is twofold. First, itdefines a rather narrow mouth as shown in Figure 2 and secondly acts asa slide for the ice cubes or shaved ice which is stored by the container12. agitators 34 are swingably mounted on vertical side plate 40 byrivets 42. The other end of agitators 34 are swingably mounted onmovable carriage 14 by bolts 48 and nuts 50, as shown in Figures 1, 2,and 6. The

agitators 34, therefore, are upstanding in relation to base 1 plate 22and span the width of the container 12.

The movable carriage 14 is shown in detail in Figures 3, 4, and 6. Itconsists of two fixed guideways 52 in the form of U-shaped channels inspaced co-extensive relation to one another. Channels 52 underliecontainer 12 and are attached thereto by bolts 44 and nuts 46 as shownin Figures 1 and 2. The channels 52 act as guideways for rollers 54which are rotatably mounted on angle plates 56 by means of shafts 58.Angle plates 56 serve as the mounting unit for agitators 34 (by means ofnuts 48 and bolts 50) and for webs 28 by means of rivets 50 as shown inFigures 4 and 6. The webs 28 have a truncated pyramidal cross-sectionalshape as shown in Figure 3 and thereby define beveled edges 62. As hasbeen discussed hereinbefore these webs 28 are so spaced that they defineice-dispensing windows 30 between each other of at least the same extentas the base openings 26 in base plate 22. In the construction thus fardescribed it is apparent that angle plates 56 are movable with respectto channels 52. This motion is accomplished by means of a motoroperating through a crank mechanism as is best seen in Figures 4 and 5.

Carriage link 14a is fixedly supported and mounted in angle plates 56 atone end and is rotatably mounted in crank arm 64 at its other end. Crankarm 64, in turn, is rotatably mounted on cam 66 by means of pin 68. Thecam 66 derives its motion from motor 70 through pinion 72 and reductiongear 74 as best seen in Figures 2 and 4. It will be noted that thereciprocating path defined by the displacement of carriage link 14a isof suflicient extent to shift the carriage '14 between an ice-holdingposition where webs 28 underlie openings 26 in base plate 22 and anice-dispensing position where windows 30 underlie openings 26. Theagitators 34 which are mounted on angle plates 56 move in unison withand will rock at a rate proportional to the linear displacement ofcarriage link 14a.

As shown in Figure 1 the solid lines designating agitators 34 define theice-disposing position of carriage 14, and the dotted lines 34a definethe ice-holding position of carriage 14a. Because the motion imparted tocarriage 14 by means of carriage length 14a is' of a reciprocatingnature the agitators 34 will rock back and forth between the solid linesand the dotted lines as shown in Figure 1. This motion gently prods andseparates the ice cubes r shaved ice which are joined while resting inthe container '12. The rate of displacement of agitators 34 is of avalue insutficient to fracture or The.-

powder the ice cubes.

4 Consequently reduction gear 72 is of such a size that will producethis critical rate of angular displacement of agitators 34.

The ice-dispensing machine 10 is coin operated so that insertion of asuitable coin will operate the machine for a predetermined time. As bestseen in Figure 5, switch 76 will close upon deposit of a coin andsupplies current to the motor 70 from the source 78 which may be anycommercial outlet situated in the place which houses the ice-dispensingmachine 10. The rotating motion of motor 70 is transmitted from pinion74 to reduction gear 72 to cam 66 which in turn operates crank 64 whichcreates the reciprocating motion of carriage link 14a. When thepredetermined time has expired switch 76 will open. However, motor 70will be supplied current by means of spring switch 80 until the cam 66is in the position shown in Figure 5. The purpose of this constructionis to insure that-the webs 28 underlie the base opening 26 in base plate22 (the ice-holding position of carriage 14) at the time the machine isnot in operation. If the switch 76 is opened at a time when the carriage14 is not in the ice holding position, the spring switch 80 will beclosed because it will be riding on the circular periphery of cam 66. Asthe cam continues to rotate, cutout portion 82 will be approaching theposition of the spring switch 80. When the cutout is in the position asshown in Figure 5 the contacts of the switch a 80 spring open,deenergizing motor 70. Consequently,

carriage 14 is always in ice-holding position when the ice dispensingmachine 10 is deenergized.

While I have described and shown a specific embodiment of the presentinvention it will, of course, be understood that various modificationsand alternative constructions may be made without departing from thetrue spirit and scope thereof. I therefore intend by the appended claimsto cover all such modifications and alternative constructions fallingwithin their true spirit and scope.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. An ice dispensing machine for use with a machine for making ice cubesor the like comprising in combination: an insulated container adapted tohouse ice cubes or the like and having a base plate with an icedispensing opening; a chute spaced immediately below said opening toreceive said cubes or the like from said opening when the spacetherebetween is unobstructed; a movable carriage immediately underlyingsaid base plate and having an ice dispensnig window and a closure web ofat least the extent of said ice dispensing opening, said window and saidweb being positioned on said carriage for alternative movement into saidspace; means to impart reciprocating motion to said movable carriage toshift the same between an ice-holding position with the web in saidspace underlying said ice dispensing opening and an ice-dispensingposition with the ice dispensing window in said space underlying saidice dispensing opening; and an agitating rod swingably attached at oneend to said container at a point elevated in relation to said base plateand swingably attached at the other end to said movable carriage wherebythe agitating rod is rocked in unison with the reciprocation of saidmovable carriage to prod the ice gently to discharge the same at uniformrate without fracture or powdering.

2. An ice dispensing machine for use with a machine for making ice cubesor the like comprising in combination: an insulated container adapted tohouse ice cubes or the like and having a base plate with a plurality ofice dispensing openings; a chute spaced immediately below said openingsto receive said cubes or the like from said openings when the spacetherebetween is unobstructed; a movable carriage immediately underlyingsaid base plate and having a plurality of ice dispensing windows andclosure webs of at least the extent of said ice dispensing .openings,said windows and said webs being positioned on said carriage foralternative movement into said space; means to impart reciprocatingmotion to said movable carriage to shift the same between an ice-holdingposition with the webs in said space underlying said ice dispensingopenings and an ice-dispensing position with the ice dispensing windowsin said space underlying said ice dispensing openings; and agitatingrods swingably attached at one end to said container at a point elevatedin relation to said base plate and swingably attached at the other endto said movable carriage whereby the agitating rods are rocked in unisonwith the reciprocation of said movable carriage to prod the ice gentlyto discharge the same at uniform rate without fracture or powdering.

3. An ice dispensing machine for use with a machine for making ice cubesor the like comprising in combination: an insulated container adapted tohouseice cubes or the like having a base plate with ice dispensingopenings and having at least one sloping side in relation to the othersides; a chute spaced immediately below said openings to receive saidcubes or the like from said openings when the space therebetween isunobstructed; a movable carriage immediately underlying said base plateand having ice dispensing windows and closure webs of at least theextent of said ice dispensing openings, said win dows and said websbeing positioned on said carriage for alternative movement into saidspace; means to impart reciprocating motion to said movable carriage toshift the same between an ice-holding position with the webs in saidspace underlying said ice dispensing openings and an ice-dispensingposition with the ice dispensing windows in said space underlying saidice dispensing openings; agitating rods each swingably attached at oneend to one side of the container and swingably attached at the other endto said movable carriage whereby the agitating rods are rocked in unisonwith the reciprocation of said movable carriage in a plane spanning saidcontainer and generally parallel to said sloping side to prod the icegently to discharge the same at a uniform rate without fracture orpowdering.

4. A coin operated ice dispensing machine for use with a machine formaking ice cubes or the like comprising in combination: an insulatedcontainer adapted to house ice cubes or the like and having a base platewith ice dispensing openings; a chute spaced immediately below saidopenings to receive said cubes or the like from said openings when thespace therebetween is unobstructed; a movable carriage immediatelyunderlying said base plate and having ice dispensing windows and webs ofat least the extent of said ice dispensing openings, said windows andsaid webs being positioned on said carriage for alternative movementinto said space; coin operated means to impart reciprocating motion fora predetermined time to said movable carriage to shift the same betweenan ice-holding position with the webs in said space underlying said icedispensing openings and an icedispensing position with the icedispensing windows in said space underlying said ice dispensingopenings; agitating means rocking in unison with the reciprocation ofsaid movable carriage to prod gently the ice to discharge the same at auniform rate without fracture or powdering; and means to continue thereciprocations of the carriage after said time until it is restored tothe ice-holding position.

5. A machine for dispensing a particulate material such as ice cubes orthe like, said device comprising: a frame; a container mounted on saidframe and adapted to house said material, said container having a baseplate with a material dispensing opening; means spaced immediately belowsaid opening to receive said material from said opening when the spacetherebetween is unobstructed; a. movable carriage mounted on said frameand having a closure web of at least the extent of said ice dispensingopening, said web being movable on said carriage with respect to saidcontainer to move into and out of said space to obstruct and permit,respectively, the flow of said material from said container to saidmeans; an agitating rod swingably attached at one end to said containerat a point elevated in relation to said base plate and swingablyattached at the other end to said carriage whereby the rod is moved inunison with the movement of said carriage to prod the material gently todischarge the same at uniform rate without fracture or powdering; andpower means operatively connected to said carriage to move said web intoand out of said space.

6. A machine for dispensing a particulate material such as ice cubes orthe like, said device comprising: a frame; a container mounted on saidframe and adapted to house said material, said container having a baseplate with a material dispensing opening; means spaced immediately belowsaid opening to receive said material from said opening when the spacetherebetween is unobstructed; a movable carriage mounted onsaid frameand having a web of at least the extent of said ice dispensing opening,said web being movable on said car riage with respect to said containerto move into and out of said space to obstruct and permit, respectively,the flow of said material from said container to said means; anagitating rod swingably attached at one end to said container at a pointelevated in relation to said base plate and swingably attached at theother end to said carriage whereby the rod is moved in unison with themovement of said carriage to prod the material gently to discharge thesame at uniform rate without fracture or powdering; and power meansoperatively connected to said carriage to move said web into and out ofsaid space when said power means is energized, said power meansincluding a control means efliective to deenergize said control meansonly when said web is in said space.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS908,700 Rush Ian. 5, 1909 1,413,428 Riley Apr. 18, 1922 1,974,988Hillstrom Sept. 25, 1934 2,237,189 McCormack et al. Apr. 1, 19412,668,636 Feb. 9, 1954-

